In 2000, Ryan McGinley, then a student, staged his first exhibition of photographs in an abandoned SoHo gallery. To coincide with the show, the artist created several handmade books featuring a sampling of his work entitled The Kids Are Alright. A copy eventually found its way into the hands of Sylvia Wolf, then a curator of photography at the Whitney Museum of American Art. In 2003, Wolf mounted an exhibition of his work at the venerable institution, the youngest artist to ever have a solo show at the museum.
What Wolf recognized—and what other critics, curators, and collectors would quickly discover—was an artist who understood and chronicled his own generation (habituées of New York City’s downtown) as no artist had before him. McGinley had managed to capture the hedonistic adventures of youth culture—kids hanging out and enjoying life—but without the dark underbelly of earlier artists who mined similar themes. As the work evolved, he moved away from the more documentary aspect of the early photographs and began to create scenarios where he could explore different ideas (aesthetic and otherwise). This eventually led to the now legendary summer-long road trips, capturing groups of twenty-somethings amongst a variety of American landscapes. In his most recent body of work, McGinley continues to explore—in black and white as well as in color—the body but in the still, pared down atmosphere of his studio.
In this first major monograph chronicling the entirety of the artist’s career, McGinley’s work is considered by three extraordinary figures: Chris Kraus, novelist and critic; John Kelsey, writer, artist and activist; and Gus Van Sant, the auteur filmmaker. Each attends—through the lens of their own rich insights—to various aspects of the artist’s work and creative process, offering in-depth and unique perspectives on McGinley’s work and import.
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"Ryan McGinley is without a doubt the defining photographer of this generation. His forthcoming monograph, Ryan McGinley: Whistle for the Wind, solidifies his impact in art and culture." ~Complex.com
"Forviewers who get past the casual nudity and low-fi aesthetic, there's plenty of unexpected beauty and youthful ebullience." ~American Photo
"Forviewers who get past the casual nudity and low-fi aesthetic, there's plenty of unexpected beauty and youthful ebullience." ~American Photo
About the Author
Chris Kraus is the author of four novels, most recently Summer of Hate (2012) and two books of art criticism. She writes frequently about visual and literary culture for Art in America, Artforum, May Revue, Los Angeles Review of Books, and other publications. The recipient of a Warhol Foundation Arts Writing grant, she has published essays and monographs on contemporary artists including Jorge Pardo, Moyra Davey, Elke Krystufek, Tiny Creatures, The Bernadette Corporation, among many others. With Richard Birkett and Marco Vera, she organized the Artists Space exhibition “Radical Localism–Media and Art from the Pueblo Nuevo Gallery Mexicali Rose” in 2012. She teaches writing at European Graduate School.
John Kelsey is a writer, artist, and activist based in New York City. He is a member of the collective Bernadette Corporation and co-founder of the gallery Reena Spaulings Fine Art. His texts on contemporary art have appeared frequently in Artforum, where he is a contributing editor. He is the author of Rich Texts: Selected Writing for Art (Sternberg Press, 2010).
Gus Van Sant is a filmmaker, writer, artist and musician. His films include Drugstore Cowboy, Gerry, and My Own Private Idaho. He was twice nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director—in 1998 for Good Will Hunting and in 2009 for Milk. His films Paranoid Park (2007) and Last Days (2005) were both nominated for the Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or. In 2003 Elephant garnered that prestigious honor and Van Sant received the award for Best Director.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By ADUB
Format:Hardcover
You will not find this much classic Ryan Mcginley work in one place--gallery or otherwise. The guy is a cult icon--and his work is completely crystallized in this collection. In fact, the cover work "Highway" may be one of his most iconic creations ever--and is destined to become a classic (IMHO). Anyway--given that most of Ryan's works now sell in the high '000's, this book seems like (and is) a bargain. Warning: one main caveat--there is a ton of nudity in the book (not sexual, just naked, and both genders)--so if you plan on gifting this book--be aware. Cheers.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Few artists have found success in their medium as young as Ryan McGinley, but just share some time with his imagery and it will immediately be understandable why this has happened. First, a bit of history: from Wikipedia, `Ryan McGinley (born October 17, 1977) is an American photographer living in New York City who began making photographs in 1998. In 2003, at the age of 25, McGinley was one of the youngest artists to have a solo show at the Whitney Museum of American Art. He was also named Photographer of the Year in 2003 by American Photo Magazine. In 2007 McGinley was awarded the Young Photographer Infinity Award by the International Center of Photography. Ryan David McGinley, born in Ramsey, New Jersey, is the youngest of eight children. From an early age his peers and mentors were skateboarders, graffiti writers, musicians, and artists that were considered to be on the fringes of society. He moved to the East Village in 1998, and covered the walls of his apartment with Polaroid pictures of everyone who visited him there. McGinley had his first public exhibition in 2000 at 420 West Broadway in Manhattan in a DIY opening. His first book of photos, The Kids Are Alright (2002), was handmade and distributed to people he respected in the art world and sold at the exhibition. One of these books was given to Sylvia Wolf who ushered his work onto the walls of the Whitney Museum of American Art. "The skateboarders, musicians, graffiti artists and gay people in Mr. McGinley's early work 'know what it means to be photographed,' said Sylvia Wolf, the former curator of photography at the Whitney, who organized his show there. "His subjects are performing for the camera and exploring themselves with an acute self-awareness that is decidedly contemporary.... Read more ›
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
McGinley is a very good photographer, but misses opportunities to make better use of the media. It would be nice to see him control his camera better; however, many of his pieces need the uncontrolled-- like Rilke's Elegies need their "Open." All in all, this is probably going to be an important book for a good while. In future, let's hope McGinley goes a little further.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By andr3h
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is perfect. Ryan McGinley is a young genius, and with this book he gets to show his best sides. The quality of the photos is as you would hope it to be. I can only recommend this item.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Long awaited book, his work is pleasurable raw and very current with the time. Bought two and guest love it as well.
4 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Carlitony
Format:Hardcover
Very well printed, this book provides the most comprehensive retrospective on McGinley's work so far. Unlike the much disappointing retrospective recently published by Twin Palms (You and I), this one also includes his famous black and white series such as "Everybody knows this is nowhere". Definitely a must have for anyone interested in McGinley's work.
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